Apparatus for distributing and playing audio information

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a system that allows the user to select, receive and listen to audio programs that are stored or made available at a location remote to the user. A receiver is provided that allows the user to start a program at a selected position in the program, move forward and backward within a program, and pause and resume a program. The receiver comprises a network interface, user controls, an audio decompresser, an audio output driver, a central processing unit (CPU), and a power supply. The receiver may also comprise a radio broadcast receiver and a media player.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/984,772 filed on Dec. 4, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The present invention relates to a system for distributing audioinformation. More particularly, the present invention allows a user toselect and retrieve audio information from a server or source on acommunication network, the audio information being transmitted to areceiver in a stream of data and the receiver being able to play thedata as it is received.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Various systems had been developed for distributing audio information tousers. For example, the systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,557,541and 5,572,442, both issued to Schulhoff et al., use a storage/playbackdevice to store and play audio information. The storage/playback deviceis inserted into a docking station that is interfaced with acommunication network. The audio information is then transferred to thestorage/playback device via the docking station.

One of the disadvantages of this system is that it requires the user topreselect the programs the user wishes to listen to or use. It does notallow the user to contemporaneously select and play a program. The usermust plan ahead and store the programs that the user wishes to listen toat a later time. Furthermore, this system is not capable of playing livebroadcasts. The program must be prerecorded so that it can betransferred to the storage/playback device. Most users would find theseto be undesirable constraints. The portable storage/playback device alsocannot receive audio information independently. It must be interfacedwith a docking device in order to receive the information.

What is needed, is an audio system that allows a user tocontemporaneously select, receive, and play live and prerecorded audioprograms. This provides users with a much greater degree of flexibilityand it allows users to spontaneously select and receive a program. Whatis also needed is a system that is highly transportable, independent,and does not require the use of a docking station to receive audio data.

What is also needed is an audio distribution system that is capable ofintelligently providing information to users. Prior art distributionsystems, such as radio broadcasts, provide information, such as weather,news and commercials, which is believed to be relevant to the majorityof its listeners. However, this information is often irrelevant to alarge portion of listeners. Information can be much more effectivelyprovided if it is selected based upon a users individual characteristicsand transmitted to that individual.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system fordistributing audio information.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system thatallows the user to contemporaneously select, receive, and play aselected audio program.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system fora portable receiver that may receive programs over a communicationnetwork and play the programs as they are received.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system thatis capable of distributing live programs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a receiverwith a user interface that is, convenient to the user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a receiverthat allows a user to pause a program and resume listening to theprogram at the point the program was paused.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a receiverthat allows a user to fast forward and fast reverse a program.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system thatis capable of using satellites to transmit audio data to a receiver.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio systemthat is capable of transmitting a plurality of streams of data to areceiver for storage or output.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a systemthat is capable of intelligently selecting, playing, and arranging audioprograms for individual listeners.

These and other objects and advantages will be realized from thefollowing specification and claims.

The present invention comprises a system that allows the user to select,receive and listen to audio programs that are stored or made availableat a location remote to the user. A receiver is provided that allows theuser to start a program at a selected position in the program, moveforward and backward within a program (as with a tape player), and pauseand resume a program. The receiver comprises a network interface, usercontrols, an audio decompresser, an audio output driver, a centralprocessing unit (CPU), and a power supply. The receiver may alsocomprise a radio broadcast receiver and a media player.

The system of the present invention comprises at least one serverconnected to a communication network. The server stores programs andnetwork addresses of programs that are available to the user. Undernormal operation, the server would transmit an audio program to thereceiver in an optionally compressed stream of data over thecommunication network. The receiver would receive the stream of data,decompress the data, and generate output for the user. The server mayalso store a list of network addresses for servers or sources that storeparticular programs. When the user selects a program, the servertransmits a network address to the receiver that then automaticallybegins communication with a source to receive data for the chosenprogram.

The communication network of the present invention may comprise avariety of communication means, such as radio frequency transmitters andreceivers, communication wires and cables, and communication satellites.Any of a variety of well known network protocols may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method by which a program is selected andplayed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the user interface of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of method of selecting and arranging informationrelevant to a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

s seen in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a system generallyindicated as reference number 10. The system comprises a receiver 12, aserver 14, and a communication network 16.

Receiver 12 may be portable so that it can be transported like a radioor tape player. Alternatively, receiver 12 may be permanently mounted ina vehicle or at a fixed location. Receiver 12 may comprise the followingmajor components: user controls 18, a central processing unit (CPU) 20,an audio decompressor 24, an audio output device 28, a network interface30, a power supply 32, a media player 33, a memory device 34, aconfiguration manager 35, a detachable memory device 36, and a radioreceiver 37.

User controls 18 allow a user to operate receiver 12. The user mayperform such functions as selecting a desired program, setting volumeand tone, pausing and resuming a program, fast forwarding and fastreversing through a program, and storing configuration information, suchas preferred or frequently listened to programs. User controls 18comprise a front panel with buttons and knobs and an alphanumericdisplay. Alternatively, user controls 18 may comprise more sophisticatedcontrol devices, such as voice recognition so that the user can entercommands verbally and speech synthesis for providing feedbackinformation to the user.

Audio decompressor 24 is responsible for decompressing digital audiodata by any of a number of methods that are well known in the art.Typically, audio programs stored remotely will be compressed forefficient storage and transmission. Audio decompressor 24 will accept acompressed input data stream and will produce an uncompressed outputdata stream. Audio compressor 24 may be implemented in dedicatedhardware, or it may be a software algorithm running on CPU 20. It isrecognized that program data may not be compressed in which case audiodecompressor 24 would not be needed.

CPU 20 may be a standard microprocessor, such as an INTEL PENTIUMprocessor, or a custom design microprocessor with a memory device andinput/output channels to communicate with the other components ofreceiver 12. CPU 20 is responsible for receiving and implementingcommands from user controls 18 such as selecting a program or adjustingvolume, establishing a data connection to and communicating with server14, controlling the data flow from server 14 through network 16 tonetwork interface 30 and to audio decompresser 24, controlling the audiodecompression process, controlling audio output 28, and other functionsnecessary for controlling receiver 12. For example, CPU 20 may havehardware and/or software inserted commercials into a program. This mayrequire CPU 20 to store commercial data, pausing a program at a desiredlocation, and playing the commercial data.

The operating system of receiver 12 may be highly automated to requireminimum input by the user so that the device is easy to use. Forexample, when receiver 12 is turned on, it may automatically determinethe kind of network in use and may automatically begin communicationwith a network server or source without prompting the user.

Audio output 28 receives decompressed digital data from audiodecompresser 24, converts the digital data to analog form, and thendrives speakers or an output port. Audio output 28 also accepts commandsfrom CPU 20 to set volume and tone.

Network interface 30 connects to communication network 16 andfacilitates communications. The type of network interface 30 depends onthe type of communication network used. For example, if network 16 isthe Internet, network interface 30 may be a digital modem and cellulartransceiver for connecting to the Internet over cellular communicationlines. The cellular transceiver allows receiver 12 to be mobile whilecommunicating over the Internet. Other wireless technologies that arewell known in the art may also be used. Alternatively, if receiver 12 iskept in one location, a phone line and a standard personal computermodem could be used to connect receiver 12 to the Internet. A satellitecommunication transmitter and receiver could also be used to connectreceiver 12 to network 16. Communication over network 16 may beperformed in a way that is well known in the art using well knownprotocols, such as TCP/IP, CDPD, SLIP, TELNET, CSLIP, and PPP.

Power supply 32 conditions and supplies power to receiver 12. Powersupply 32 may include batteries or a means to convert external power tointernal power. For example, household electricity or a car battery maybe converted to the internal power required by receiver 12.

Media player 33 may be provided for retrieving audio data stored onstorage media. Media player 33 may be capable of using magnetic tapes,optical disks, or other storage devices. Media player may be integratedinto receiver 12 to avoid redundant components and it may be detachable.

Memory device 34 is used to store data that is used by receiver 12. Thismay include system configuration data, user preference, and operatingsystem data. Although the present invention is not intended topermanently store program data, memory 34 may be used to temporarilystore programs that are received by receiver 12. In this way, memory 34may act as a buffer to store packets of data that are received toprevent interruptions of audio output that may occur when network 16 isslow or communication is momentarily interrupted.

Receiver 12 may also be capable of receiving a plurality of streams ofdata. In this event, memory device 34 may store one or more streams ofdata while another stream of data is used by receiver 12. Memory 34 maybe any of a number of memory devices that are well known in the art,such as semiconductor based random access memory, flash memory, or ahard disk drive.

Configuration manager 35 may be a specialized hardware and/or softwarecomponent for configuring receiver 12. This component may be capable ofsensing the operating environment and adjusting the operation ofreceiver 12 accordingly. Configuration manager 35 may also be capable ofidentifying the user and applying stored user preferences to receiver12.

A user may be required to pay for access to some servers, programs, orstations. Payment may be accomplished in a number of different ways. Adetachable memory device 36, such as a PCMCIA card, flash read onlymemory, disk drive, smart card, debit card, credit card, telephone card,or compact disk drive, may be used to store encrypted identificationnumbers that a network device would use to grant access to a particularreceiver. Detachable memory device 36 may be purchased individually by auser. Detachable memory device 36 may be programmed to allow access fora predetermined amount of time or access may be granted on asubscription basis where the user makes regular payments. Detachablememory device 36 may also store other information that is relevant tothe user, such as user preferences.

It may be necessary from time to time to update the software and data onreceiver 12. Software updates may be necessary to update the operatingsystem, update network addresses for servers and sources on network 16,and update communication software. Updates may be transferredautomatically from server 14 through network 16. Alternatively,detachable memory 36 may be used to transfer data and software.

Radio receiver 37 may be provided for receiving standard radio frequencybroadcasts. Radio receiver 37 may be integrated into receiver 12 toreduce redundant components. Radio receiver 37 may also be detachablefrom receiver 12.

Network 16 allows receiver 12 and server 14 to communicate with eachother. Many different kinds of communication networks that are wellknown in the art may be used to facilitate communication, such as widearea networks and local area networks. The communication means of thenetwork may be any of the communication means that are well known in theart. The communication means may include the Internet, telephone lines,satellites, fiber optic cables, and radio frequency transmitters andreceivers. Network 16 may include any number of servers and devices thatmay be accessed by receiver 12.

Server 14 operates much like a standard server on a communicationnetwork. It stores data and programs and allows remote devices to accessthe data. Various computers and storage devices that are well known inthe art may be used as the server in the present invention. Server 14comprises a network interface 38, a central processing unit (CPU) 40,and a memory device 42. Network interface 38 is similar to networkinterface 30 of receiver 12 in that it facilitates communication overnetwork 16.

CPU 40 controls server 14 and communicates with other devices overnetwork 16. CPU 40 may be any number of designs and configurations thatare well known in the art.

Memory 42 stores program information and may store actual program data.Memory 42 may be a hard disk drive, tapes and a tape drive, compactdisks and a compact disk drive, or a combination of these devices. Thedata on memory 42 may be grouped according to the type of data.

Station guide 44 is a catalog or list of programs and programinformation. The data in station guide 44 may include the name ofprograms, the dates of creation of each program, the network address ofeach program, an alternative address of each program, the length of eachprogram, and other information.

The network address of each program indicates where on network 16 theprogram can be retrieved. A particular program may be stored on server14 or on another server or source connected to network 16.

When receiver 12 connects to server 14, server 14 may, if requested,transmit data from station guide 44 to receiver 12. Different users mayhave access to different portions of station guide 44 depending upontheir level of service provided to the user. After receiver 12 hasreceived station guide data, it will present a list of programscurrently available to the user. The user may then select a program toplay. Using the address of the program, receiver 12 requeststransmission of the program data from the appropriate server or source.If receiver 12 already has the network address of a particular stationor source selected by the user, receiver 12 may communicate directlywith the station or source and receiver 12 need not contact server 14.

Station content 46 is actual program data that may be provided by server14. If a user selects a program on server 14, server 14 will transmitthe program data to receiver 12. Server 14 may also receive programsfrom an external source for storage in memory 42 and for contemporaneoustransmission. For example, server 14 may receive a radio program from aradio station 50 over a communication means 52. As the radio station'stransmission is received, server 14 can simultaneously store the data inmemory 42 and can transmit the data to receiver 12. In the preferredembodiment, server 14 compresses program data as it is received so thatit can be more efficiently stored and transmitted over network 16.Communication means 52 may be radio frequency transmissions, a phoneline, or satellite communication. Server 14 may also receive data from anetwork source 54 over network 16. Source 54 may be any content provideror another server. If receiver 12 has the network address of radiostation 50 and source 54, which are connected to network 16, receiver 12can communicate directly with these content providers and receiveprogram data directly

Memory 42 also includes station manager 48 which is a database andsoftware for administering programs and station data and for allowingcontent providers to add their station and programs to the listingsstored in station content 46. Station manager 48 can be made availableto all who have access to it through the Internet or other network.Software is provided for adding, changing, or deleting listings that arestored in memory 42 and/or station guide 44. The listings can be addedby anyone with access but changes and additions may be required to beapproved by an administrator of server 14. The listing may include, butare not limited to, such data as station names, category and group ofeach station, and the network address of each station. By including dataon the category of stations and programs, users can retrieve programs bythe type of content provided. For example, if a user wanted to listen toa sports program, the user can view a list of sports programs and selecta specific program or station in a category. Other possible categoriesinclude news, every category and subcategory of music, comedy, specificperformers, language, gospel, live events (e.g. concerts andperformances), financial, weather, traffic and information relevant to ageographic and location.

Memory 42 may also include commercial manager 49. The present inventionmakes it possible for users in many regions to hear radio broadcasts andstations from outside of their current geographical area. In some cases,the commercials that are broadcasted will not be appropriate for thearea. Commercial manager 49 allows server 14 to play commercials andinformation that are more appropriate for the area of the listener. Forexample, station manager 49 may include data for commercials thatcorrespond to different locations. When a receiver communicates withserver 14, server 14 can identify the receiver's geographic locationbased on its network address or its identification number that isassigned to the receiver when the receiver is initially registered.Commercial manager 49 would then play commercials for the user's region.Other options include removing commercials completely from a program orplaying commercials and information that address the user's interest ordemographic profile.

Server 14 is preferably capable of transmitting multiple streams of datato a single receiver 12. This allows receiver 12 to receive sets of datathat may be used separately. For example, receiver 12 may receivecommercial data while it is receiving and playing a program for a user.The commercial data may then be played at an appropriate time.

There are a number of features and capabilities of system 10 that arecurrently not available in the prior art. To fully appreciate andunderstand the novelty of system 10, it is best to consider the deviceas compared to known products, such as a radio, a tape recorder/player,and a personal computer. System 10 is able to combine features from eachof the above devices. Receiver 12 is similar to a radio in that itprovides audio output from a remote source.

However, the user may select a particular program as well as a broadcaststation. As an example, when a radio is tuned to a particular station,the user must listen to whatever program is currently being broadcastedon that station. In contrast, the present invention allows a user toselect a particular program to be played at any given time. The programneed only be provided by server 14 or another server or network sourceconnected to the network 16. In addition to selecting a particularprogram, a user also has the option of selecting a broadcast station tolisten to a contemporaneous broadcast. However, the broadcast stationmay be located anywhere in the world as long as it is connected tonetwork 16.

When a program is selected, the user can take advantage of a number offeatures. The user can move quickly forward and backward through theprogram to skip portions of the program which do not interest the user.The user can also pause the program and can switch to another programand then return to the first program, beginning where the user paused.These features are reminiscent of a tape player. A tape player can alsomove quickly forward and backward, can pause a program, and can switchprograms. However, the present invention precludes the need for the userto have physical possession of the program storage media. Instead,receiver 12 accesses programs provided at anyone of numerous remotelocations connected to network 16.

A key feature of the present invention is the ability to access anyprogram at any location accessible by the network to which the device isconnected. If the network happens to be the Internet, then the devicecan play a program from nearly anywhere in the world. This is superiorto a radio that typically has a very limited range of reception.

User controls 18 and the operating system of receiver 12 are simple likethat of a radio or tape player to allow a user to easily operate thereceiver. A user may operate the device while performing other tasks,such as driving a car, with a minimum of attention given to receiver 12.This is an advantage over a personal computer that requires a muchgreater degree of attention and operational skill and knowledge. Sincethe present invention is designed for performing a specific task,receiver 12 and user controls 18 are also much smaller and cheaper tomanufacture than a personal computer.

Receiver 12 may be configured using three methods; using a configurationmanager 35 of receiver 12, using a master station, or configuration by amanufacturer or seller. The configuration of receiver 12 determines theoperating parameters, such as the communication protocols to use, andpresets for receiver 12. Configuration manager 35 provides a mechanismfor a user to configure the receiver. For example, programs can beassigned to a button, types of programs can be selected, or a group ofprograms can be scanned.

Receiver 12 has a physical interface, such as a button, which will placereceiver 12 in its configuration mode. The user may scroll throughvarious menus to select a program or station and assign it to a button.The physical interface may resemble the interface of a radio. A userwill find the station that he/she is interested in (by scanning throughcategories or lists of stations) and select the preset button to assignto that station.

Configuration manager 35 also includes means for configuring receiver 12to its operating environment. Preferably, configuration manager 35 canautomatically sense the type of network connection being used and selectthe appropriate communication protocol and network addresses to be usedwith that network.

A user may also configure receiver 12 using an independent computer thathas access to network 16. The user may use a graphical user interface onthe computer to perform the configuration. Once the configuration isselected, the configuration can be transferred to receiver 12 using acomputer interface, such as a parallel port or detachable memory device36.

Receiver 12 can be preconfigured by a manufacturer or supplier. Theconfiguration may also be changed by the supplier or operating companyremotely through network 16 or by supplying the user with detachablememory device 36.

The receiver can be configured for “pay per listen.” For example,detachable memory device 36 may be required to be inserted into thedevice to allow a provider to charge a user for a program. Theconfiguration may also include an expiration time or date, similar topay phone cards.

In order to access a “station” the receiver must be connected to network16. Because different networks may be used, the user may indicate aparticular network or configuration manager 35 may automatically sensethe type of network. Once the type of network is selected, the systemcan be configured by the user or the system to determine how and when toconnect to the network. For example, if the connection is via cellularmodem, the system may connect as soon as the receiver is turned on. Ifthe connection is via a cable system, the connection may be active atall times.

FIG. 2 represents a flow chart of a method of operation for the presentinvention. A user session may begin at three different locations asindicated by start block 80. A user may scan a list of programs that arecurrently available to the user 82. Receiver 12 could automaticallyconnect to server 90 and request a list of programs that are currentlyavailable to the particular user 84. Server 90 would transmit a list ofprograms back to receiver 12 that would present the list to the user ona display.

At this point, a user would select a program 86 and would initiate playby pushing a play button or by some other user interface means 88. Insome cases, a program may have been paused by this particular user at aprevious time. For example, a user may have been driving in his car andwhen he reached his destination, he paused the program he was listeningto and exited the car. When the user returns he may wish to continue tolisten to the program where he had left off. In this event, the user maytouch a dedicated button that would request that the server begintransmission at the point he paused the program 88. The receiver,detecting a pause signal 94, would then retrieve the address in theprevious pause position 100 and request the server to begin transmissionof the program at the pause position 102. If the user does not wish tobegin the program at the pause position, the receiver then determines ifthe address of the selected program is known to the receiver 96. If theaddress is not known, the receiver obtains the address from server 90and stores it 98. At this point the receiver would request that theserver begin transmission of the selected program 102. The server wouldbegin transmission and the receiver would receive the data 104. Thereceiver then decompresses the data 106 and generates an audio signal108.

The receiver continuously looks for input commands by the user, such asa pause command 110. If no pause command is detected, the receivercontinues to receive the data from server 90. If the receiver detects apause signal, the receiver would store the address of the program andthe position the user activated the pause function.

FIG. 3 represents a user interface that may be used to implement thepresent invention. A display 140 may be used to display information inalphanumeric form. Information displayed may include a selected program,a list of programs, current status of receiver 12, the current time, andmany other kinds of information. An LED 142 may be used to indicate ifreceiver 12 is currently on. Buttons 144, 146, 148, and 150 may be usedto store user presets so that a user could go directly to a program orstation that the user often listens to. A button 152 may be providedwhich is used to scan programs on a particular category or list ofprograms. A button 154 may be provided for playing the currentlyindicated program. A button 156 may be used to pause and resume aparticular program. A button 158 may be used to set a user preset.Buttons 160 and 162 may be used to scroll through a list of programs,stations, or commands presented on display 140. A knob 164 may be usedto control the volume of the audio output of receiver 12. Button 166 maybe used to configure receiver 12. For example, phone numbers may beadded to connect to a communication network.

System 10 of the present invention may utilize an information selectionmethod like that described in FIG. 4 for determining information to bepresented to a user. This method can be used to determine theinformation, data, or programs that are presented to a user. Forexample, system 10 may determine commercials that are relevant to a userand play them at selected points in a program.

The method would begin by identifying a user 200. This may be performedby receiver 12 by a number of different methods. For example, receiver12 may require an access code to be entered by the user that identifiesthe user or receiver 12 may detect the user from information ondetachable memory device 36. Alternatively, the user may be assumed tobe the person who is registered as the owner of receiver 12. The user'scharacteristics would then be identified 202. This may be performed byreferencing user characteristics stored in data base 204. Data base 204may comprise information and configuration manager 35, detachable memorydevice 36, memory 34, or memory 42 of server 14. User characteristicsmay include a large variety of information, such as age, sex,preferences, profession, income, residence, language, and interests.

Once the user's characteristics have been determined, information thatis relevant to the user is selected. The information that is relevant tothe user may be stored on database 204 which may comprise memory 34,detachable memory device 36, or memory 42 of server 14. The informationmay include commercials, programs, news, weather, and system generatedmessages. If the selected information is stored in memory 42 of server14, the information is transmitted to receiver 12 for storage or play.

Once relevant information is selected, the insertion point of theinformation or the arrangement of programs is determined. For example,if a commercial has been selected, it may be determined that thecommercial will be played when a program that is currently playing iscompleted. If the user is receiving a live broadcast, such as a sportingevent, system 10 may wait until there is a break in the activity to playa commercial. Alternatively, system 10 may play a selected commercial inplace of a commercial that is transmitted in the same date stream as theprogram.

Once the insertion point or arrangement has been determined, system 10would play the information or program for the user 210. In this way,system 10 allows for the intelligent selection and arrangement ofprograms and information for the user.

It may now be realized that the present invention provides a novelapparatus for making audio information available to users. The system ofthe present invention comprises a receiver, a server, and acommunication network. The receiver is capable of interactivelycommunicating: with a user and the server. The network facilitatescommunication between the receiver and other devices attached to thenetwork. The system allows the user to select, receive, and listen to aprogram in a contemporaneous manner. The present invention alsocomprises means for intelligently arranging and playing audioinformation.

Although the description above contains many specifications, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but asmerely providing illustrations of some of presently preferredembodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention shouldbe determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents ratherthan by the example given.

1. A method for selecting information in a system for distributing audioprograms and information over the internet comprising: identifying auser of the system for distributing audio programs over the Internet;identifying user characteristics of the user; determining relevantinformation based on the user characteristics, said relevant informationselected from a group of relevant information comprising: commercials,programs, news, weather, and system generated messages stored on aserver; determining an insertion point of the relevant information inthe audio program; and playing the relevant information at the insertionpoint in the audio program for the user.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein user characteristics may be any characteristic selected from thelist of characteristics comprising: age, sex, preferences, profession,income, residence, language, interests and audio receiver ownership. 3.A method for selecting information in a system for distributing audioprograms and information over the internet comprising: identifying auser of the system for distributing audio programs over the Internet;identifying user characteristics of the user; determining relevantinformation based on the user characteristics, said relevant informationselected from a group of relevant information comprising: commercials,programs, news, weather, and system generated messages stored on aserver; and selecting an arrangement of programs based on the relevantinformation determined.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein usercharacteristics may be any characteristic selected from the list ofcharacteristics comprising: age, sex, preferences, profession, income,residence, language, interests, and audio receiver ownership.
 5. Amethod for selecting information in a system for distributing audioprograms the internet comprising: an audio receiver automaticallyconnecting to an audio server; requesting a list of programs that arecurrently available from the audio server to a particular user of thesystem; transmitting a list of programs available from the audio serverto the user to the audio receiver; selecting a program from the list ofprograms available to the user; and transmitting the selected programfrom the audio server to the audio receiver.